What Are We to Make of the "Terror Gap"?

Under current federal law, terror suspects who are barred from flying on planes can legally purchase firearms and explosives.
There is a “Terror Gap” Petition to change this law.
However, the petition is sponsored by the same New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg who, last Sunday, implied that the Times Square bomber was a TEA Party conservative when he said the bomb could have been placed by “somebody with a political agenda who doesn’t like the health care bill.”
For that reason, I do not trust this petition. I can just see Obama declaring as all veterans, Christians, pro-lifers, pro-2nd Amendment, and TEA Partiers to be “terrorist suspects” and then take our gun rights away. Afterall, none other than the Obama administration’s Dept of Homeland Security had said exactly that in a leaked memo last year.
Your thoughts?~Eowyn
H/t beloved FellowshipOfMinds member May.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hearing by Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on National Security Threats Caused by the Terror GapIn the Past Six Years People on the Terrorist Watch Lists Succeeded in Purchasing Guns and Explosives from Licensed Dealers 1,119 TimesJoin Tens of Thousands of Concerned Citizens at www.TerrorGap.org and Send a Message to Congress to Close the Terror Gap
Mayors Against Illegal Guns co-chair Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York City today testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. In his testimony, Mayor Bloomberg urged Congress to close the Terror Gap, a loophole in federal law that allows individuals on the terrorist watch lists to purchase firearms and explosives. Mayor Bloomberg was joined at the hearing by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), the lead sponsor of Senate legislation that would close the Terror Gap; U.S. Representative Peter King (R-NY), the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee and sponsor of the House bill; and Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur, the top counterterrorism official to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
“Today, the Government Accountability Office released data showing that 1,119 people on the terror watch lists were able to buy guns and explosives from licensed dealers over the past six years—and the FBI has been powerless to stop it,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Working with our state and federal law enforcement partners, we’ve developed sophisticated counterterrorism capacities to keep our streets safe. That’s exactly why the Terror Gap — a loophole in federal law that allows individuals on terrorist watch lists to purchase firearms and explosives — flies in the face of common sense. We need Congress to close the Terror Gap and join us in opposing the easy access that terror suspects have to guns and explosives.”
“This week’s attempted bombing in Times Square was a sharp reminder that threat of terrorism is very real both from inside and outside our country,” said Rep. Peter King. “The war on terror must be fought from all directions and law enforcement must have all the tools they need to keep our cities safe. Closing the Terror Gap is one very important step in this process to prevent dangerous weapons and explosives from falling into the hands of those who wish to do us harm.”
“Convicted felons and individuals with serious mental health histories are currently prohibited under federal law from purchasing a gun,” said Mayors Against Illegal Guns co-chair and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “And yet, the Terror Gap currently allows terrorist suspects to purchase guns and explosives. This is simply unacceptable, and such a gap endangers the work of dedicated police officers and military personnel nationwide. Congress cannot continue to stall on this important piece of legislation, and our coalition of over 500 mayors will continue to press forward on closing this gap — once and for all.”
“As elected officials are main responsibility is the public safety of the people we serve,” said Mayors Against Illegal Guns member Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles. “The Terror Gap severely hinders our ability to meet our responsibility, and presents a serious threat to the safety of our cities. Allowing terror suspects to buy guns and explosives is inexcusable, and we must work together to assure we close access. That’s why I’ve asked Deputy Chief MacArthur — our city’s leader on counter terrorism issues — to make a direct appeal to the U.S. Senate today about the urgent need to close this glaring gap in our nation’s gun laws.”
Coalition Urges Concerned Citizens to Send a Message to Congress at www.TerrorGap.org
Since its launch last November, Mayors Against Illegal Guns’ advocacy website, www.TerrorGap.org, has generated over 10,000 individual messages urging Congress to take action on the Terror Gap. With today’s push to close the Terror Gap, concerned citizens can join these over 10,000 other Americans to call on Congress to close the gap. Americans overwhelmingly support measures to close the Terror Gap. A 2008 poll found that 89% of Americans support closing the Terror Gap. A 2009 poll by Republican pollster Frank Luntz found that 82% of National Rifle Association members support closing the Terror Gap.

About the Terror Gap

Under current federal law, terror suspects who are barred from flying on planes can legally purchase firearms and explosives. According to the Government Accountability Office, in the past six years, people on the terrorist watch list succeeded in purchasing guns and explosives from licensed dealers 1,119 times. Mayors Against Illegal Guns first highlighted the Terror Gap in September 2007 and has supported legislation introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Peter King (R-NY) to close the gap. The following examples of acts committed by terrorists with guns show the importance of closing the Terror Gap:

Fort Hood shooting. On November 5, 2009, 13 people were shot and killed and 30 others were wounded by Major Nidal Hasan, a man who had been under investigation by the FBI and was suspected of having ties to terrorists. Hasan purchased his gun after the FBI had investigated his suspicious activities, but the FBI agents who ran the gun background check never communicated with the FBI agents who had investigated Hasan.

Quantico plot. On July 27, 2009, the FBI arrested seven terror suspects for conspiring to murder U.S. military personnel at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia. Over several years, they had amassed an arsenal of assault rifles and more than 26,000 rounds of ammunition. The ringleader, Daniel Patrick Boyd, was under investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and in recent years, Boyd had traveled to the Middle East to meet with militants.

Little Rock shooting. On June 1, 2009, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad opened fire at a military recruiting station in Little Rock, killing one private and wounding another. At the time of the shooting, the FBI was investigating Muhammad after his arrest in Yemen with a fake Somali passport. He was charged with murder and 16 counts of terrorist acts.

Fort Dix plot. In 2007, six terror suspects were arrested for plotting to attack Fort Dix after trying to buy M-16s, AK-47s, and handguns from an FBI informant. One suspect pled guilty to providing firearms to illegal aliens. The other five were convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. military personnel.

Empire State Building murders. On February 23, 1997, Ali Abu Kamal opened fire on the observation deck of the Empire State Building with a handgun purchased from a licensed dealer in Florida, killing one tourist and wounding six before killing himself. A note in his pocket expressed hatred for the United States, Great Britain, Israel, and France.

Halberstam murder. On March 1, 1994, Rashid Baz shot and killed 16-year old Ari Halberstam on the Brooklyn Bridge. Baz had a machine gun, a 9 mm pistol, and a “street sweeper” shotgun.

CIA Headquarters attack. On January 25, 1993, Mir Aimal Kasi stopped at a red light near CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Shooting with an assault rifle he bought that month from a Chantilly, VA gun dealer, Kasi killed two CIA employees and wounded three others.

0 responses to “What Are We to Make of the "Terror Gap"?”

Terrorists can always get guns, regardless of what the law says.
Secondly, I don’t trust the liberal politicians who will be the ones defining what an actual “terrorist” is, particularly since Janet Reno II’s little paper came to light.
-Dave

I’m so glad someone agrees with me, Dave!
This is precisely what historians like Walter Lacquer, who has written on terrorism, warn us about.
The populace of a society being attacked by terrorism get so intimidated that, to purchase a false sense of safety, they surrender their rights and liberties to government. The government acquires totalitarian powers and becomes a menace and terror to the people.
Once we surrender our rights and liberties, who will protect us from the terrorist state?

Sounds like a great way to torment and disarm every “rightwing extremist” who didn’t vote Democrat in ’08, believes the Constitution should be obeyed and, gosh, occasionally even listens to Rush Limbaugh.

When did owning guns become so Un-PC? During my childhood , there was never any negativity about guns. We were taught from a very young age a respect for guns and how to be safe around them. We knew better than to go near where guns were stored. Parents today do not interact enough with their children to explain things to them. It’s easier to put them in front of a DVD.

Very few if any gun owners think their gun is a bad thing. The United States Government knows that if the people become disgruntled with the system there are enough guns in the private sector to oust the politicians. After all, there are only 535 in the congress and 2 in the White House. There are over 150 million guns in the private sector. That’s why guns are bad–they’re a threat to the government.
Our constitutions provides for the overthrow of this government if it no longer serves the people. The government knows that too. They’re running scared and they’re going to do everything in their power to take our guns. The question comes down to this–Are we the people going to let them get away with it? Our government was founded of the people, for the people, and by the people.
It was not founded of the government, for the government, or by the government. We have the right to bear arms even against our own government if it usurps the rights of the people–
Our Declaration of independence is not a document to take lightly or to ignore as the current administration does-
This is just a small part of that document.
And a direct quote.
“…That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…”
This quote gives the power to the people and not to the federal government.
I would not suggest any one be so drastic as to attempt the overthrow of our government but I do believe we have the obligation to vote all of them out of office come November.

Steve, you’re a great American…I do know how the idiot politicians of this day think the Constitution of this great country is a living breathing document to be interpreted for their convenience, and I know our supreme court is on the side of loose interpretation, but that does not change the document nor does it change facts. The fact is we have the constitutional right to throw the *&^%$#@* out of office and we have the right to use force if necessary. I do not condone that as a measure but if it begins …. All the guns in the world won’t stop the people. Look at what’s happening in Greece right now. The unions are not getting their entitlements and now they’re rioting in the streets. The same will happen in America if government spending for entitlements does not stop and stop right now. This country cannot continue printing money against our shrinking GDP and expect inflation to remain stable. Look at the price of oil –it’s up to $80.00 + a barrel and rising–it’s doing that to compensate for the devaluation of our money–If we don’t stop it at this next election we will be out of business by 2015. Believe me Steve–I am not naive–I know you were being facetious but this is a subject that cannot be talked about enough.

Well, everybody,
Here’s the thing. Obama thinks he can stir up civil unrest and then he can declare marshal law and that will solve all his problems. After all–if the military is here with their guns threatening the civilians and he declares a curfew he thinks that will be the end of it and then he can increase his political power and the power of the government. He might even try waht lindcoln did, remove habeous corpus so he can take over the country. People will eventually wake up but when they do most of them will be dead.
I like the following quote but I don’t know who said it.
“You can fool some of the people all of the time and most of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
Our day will come—wasn’t that a song?????

I find it curious that the left would even consider such a move given the fact that 39 million Americans are ready to revolt, but liberal progressives are quite stupid and mostly uneducated.
Their leaders don’t believe in the philosophy–they just propagate it for the power. It’s the people that are stupid. Too bad someone like me can’t get power for about two days. That’s all it would take to straighten this country out. Anyone who can’t pass a simple test would lose their right to vote. All taxes on the Federal level would be revoked and a new tax would be instigated, a fair tax. All government giveaway programs would cease and all money for pork would be eliminated. Term limits would go immediately into effect and Congressional pay would revert back to its original intent. Congressional retirement would be earned and no individual in Congress would be qualified for a lifetime pension. Any individual in Congress who committed a felony would be tried, convicted, and sentenced. No person on death row would be on death row after the two days.
The UN would be kicked out of our country and all illegal aliens would have 24 hours to get the hell out or be either prosecuted or executed as foreign invaders.
That’s just part of what I would do if given the chance. See—I am a radical.

It’s so funny you should bring up age. One of my children voted for B. Insane NowantaObama. Now he says he voted for him so America would wake up—SURE THING–Not to long ago my other son, the one in the Navy, told me that all the information, all the knowledge, all the wisdom, I have amassed over the years was obsolete and irrelevant. That his generation wouldn’t listen to my generation because what I have to say is of no consequence.
Every time he has a question about electronics, he’s on the phone. Every time his car breaks down he’s on the phone and every time one of his kids sneezes, he’e on the phone. The list goes on and on but my knowledge is irrelevant.

Eowyn, Steve,
I know my children think I’m somewhere out there but the fact that they come to me every time they need an answer to a riddle or they have a question about something is enough to show they still respect me. I just found the idea that older people have nothing to offer to the younger generation rather strange. When I was ten I met a man who was my age now, 73. I was awe struck with the things he knew. Because of that man I studied Astronomy, psychology, electronics, law, Writing, literature. That man got me to enter a study group in the University of Oregon art school. From there I was able to take two years of art from individuals studying for their doctorate degrees.
He’s the one person who convinced me that knowledge was true power.
I wish my children could learn that.

A little off topic maybe, but a request for you to think about the ethics of purchasing things like compatible toners and printer ink. Do try and consider, for example, the parts your item is made with, the human rights of the employees where they’re made and the green credentials of retailers. Oh, and endeavour to recycle instead of throwing away. Thanks!!!!